Lauki Thepla

 

  Thepla, that delicious upgrade on a chapati, flecked with grated bottlegourd or fenugreek (methi) leaves and sesame seeds, and seasoned with turmeric, chilli powder, cumin and ginger-green chillies is a very popular Gujarati snack which is equally loved by those who once have this!

The truth is, it isn’t always easy to find quick vegetarian meals when you’re travelling abroad.   There are only so many bland cheese sandwiches and soggy fries you can eat before craving something more flavorful. A rolled-up thepla oozing the sunset-coloured shredded mango pickle or any pickle of your choice has, time and again, saved the day.

Once my husband was traveling from Chicago to New Mexico by  road with a Gujarati family. They were Father-Mother and son who was hubby's friend and they carried a lot of food along with them and also tea in thermos. As the one side journey was approx. 3 days by car plus one day stay there for work and then the return journey. My hubby said he could not had ever ventured upon such journey by himself...the family had everything prepared for snacking, lunch,, dinner and as they were vegetarians, perhaps they did not have much options on the way but most importantly; Gujaratis are very thrifty and thus save a lot of money and that is not bad. They has theplas, fafdas, muthiyas, namakparas, shakkarparas, mathri, pickle and what not! If anybody got hungry on the way, mom would hand out some delish food in a disposable plate! Though my  hubby is a non-vegetarian, he did not get chance to eat anything outside of that van!

Enough story.....Now thepla recipe.

 Ingredients:

1. Lauki or Bottlegourd-1 small (Grated)
2. Wheat flour-1 cup
3. Bajra or Millet flour-3 tbsp.
4. Jowar or sorghum flour- tbsp. (You can skip jowar bajra and just use 1/4 cup besan)
5. Turmeric powder- 1 tsp.
6. Cumin seeds-1  tsp.
7. Heeng- 1 pinch
8. Ginger-1 tsp. thinly sliced
9. Green chillies-3 finely chopped
10. Cilantro- tsp.
11. Salt
12. Red chilli powder-1 tsp.
13. yogurt-3 tsp.
14. Oil-  tsp. plus more for roasting thepla

Procedure:

• In a mixing bowl, mix grated lauki with salt and all the dry spices.

  • Leave for 10-5 minutes for oozing out water.

    • Now add all the flours, yogurt and start kneading the dough.

      • Roll thin rotis and senko them on a griddle or tawa, flipping and adding  tsp. oil on each side.

        • Serve with curd and pickle of your choice.

          • I seved it with Banarasi Lal Mirch ka Achar, suran ka achar and coconut chutney and yogurt.